Jon Ivar Christensen (20 March 1943 – 18 February 2020) was a Norwegian jazz drummer. He was married to actress, minister, and theater director Ellen Horn, and was the father of singer and actress Emilie Stoesen Christensen.
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Career
In the late 1960s, Christensen played alongside Jan Garbarek on several recordings by the composer George Russell. He also was a central participant in the jazz band Masqualero, with Arild Andersen, and they reappeared in 2003 for his 60th anniversary. He appears on many recordings on the ECM label with such artists as Keith Jarrett, Jan Garbarek, Terje Rypdal, Bobo Stenson, Eberhard Weber, Ralph Towner, including the seminal 1975 Solstice, Barre Phillips, Arild Andersen, Enrico Rava, John Abercrombie, Michael Mantler, Miroslav Vitous, Rainer Brüninghaus, Charles Lloyd, Dino Saluzzi Jakob Bro, and Tomasz Stanko. Christensen was a member of the Keith Jarrett "European Quartet" of the 1970s, along with Jan Garbarek and Palle Danielsson, which produced five jazz recordings on ECM Records.
Christensen died on 18 February 2020, at the age of 76.
Honors
Jazznytt musician poll, 1967
Buddyprisen, Norwegian Jazz Forum, 1967
Drummer of the Year, European Jazz Federation, 1975
Spellemannprisen, 1977
Spellemannprisen, three times with Masqualero, 1983, 1986 and 1991
Discography (in selection)
As leader
1976: No Time for Time (Pan)
As sideman
With Yelena Eckemoff
2015: Everblue (L&H Production)
2020: Nocturnal Animals (L&H Production)
With George Russell
1967: The Essence of George Russell (Soul Note)
1969: Electronic Sonata for Souls Loved by Nature (Flying Dutchman)
1970: Trip to Prillarguri (Soul Note)
1971: Listen to the Silence (Soul Note)
With Lee Konitz, Pony Poindexter, Phil Woods and Leo Wright
1968: Alto Summit (MPS)
With Steve Kuhn
1968: Watch What Happens! (MPS)
With Jan Garbarek
1969: Esoteric Circle (Flying Dutchman)
1970: Afric Pepperbird (ECM)
1971: Sart (ECM)
1973: Witchi-Tai-To (ECM)
1975: Dansere (ECM)
1975: Ingentings Bjeller (Polydor)
1978: Photo with Blue Sky, White Cloud, Wires, Windows and a Red Roof (ECM)
1980: Paths, Prints (ECM)
With Jakob Bro